Napkin holder



H. R. THOMAS June 28, 1949.

NAPKIN HOLDER Filed Oct. 30, 1945 Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention has to do with a novel holder for light weight sheet materials adapted to be retained within the holder in stacked condition and on edge. The invention has been made particularly for use as a holder for paper napkins, and as a dispenser from which individual napkins may be easily removed without disturbing the arrangement and confined condition of those remaining.

My principal object is to provide a holder especially suitable for household use, characterized by its extreme simplicity and practicability as a holder into which an open stack of napkins may be inserted and removed without in any way having to manipulate the holder beyond its selfresponsiveness to insertion and removal of the napkins.

The present type of holder embodies a simple arrangement of a pair of upstanding rigid ends or sections interconnected to be relatively movable together and apart in accordance with the thickness of a pack of napkins inserted or confined between them. Preferably, the sections are made and arranged for rocking movement on the table surface supporting them, and are rendered self-responsive not only to spreading movement when the napkins are inserted between them, but also to collapsing movement together as any number of the napkins are withdrawn.

The last mentioned result is accomplished by forming the sections so that their centers of gravity are inwardly offset from the points or locations of rocking movement, so that the sections at all times tend to rock together and thus press against and confine whatever napkin thickness between them. Preferably, the offset center of gravity condition of the sections is effected or favored by forming the sections with inwardly projecting base portions which also serve to support the napkins and enable the weight of the napkins to increase the off-balance tendencies of the sections.

The invention contemplates various additional features and details all of which will be understood to better advantage from the following detailed description of the invention as embodied in the typical and illustrative form shown by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the holder in laterally collapsed position; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section showing the holder in an expanded position.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the holder comprises a pair of sections Ill and II generally identical in shape and size, each including a base [2, an upstanding relatively thin portion l3. and an upper bead or flange 14. As will be understood, these several parts may be made of joined individual pieces or formed as unit pieces of suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastic composition.

Each base portion l2 has the form of an inwardly projecting flange adapted to rest on a table or other support S, the bottom of the base being suitably shaped so that the section is capable of free lateral rocking movement on the surface. Accordingly, the table contacting surface of the base preferably is shaped to have single point or line contact, with clearance at either side of the point of contact to permit the proper range of rocking movement. Thus the base flanges l2a are shown to be tapered inwardly to provide clearance spaces at 15, the angularity of the top surfaces 16 being such that these surfaces are substantially horizontal when the holder is in the expanded position of Fig. 2. The bottom surface ll continues beyond the point of contact at l8 in a curved surface outer flange or bead IS.

The inwardly projecting flanges or beads l4 preferably have curved surfaces for engagement with the napkin pack 20 inserted on edge and resting upon the base surfaces It, as illustrated in Fig. 2. As will be apparent, the curvature of the flanges l4 facilitates withdrawal of individual napkins with minimum disturbance of those remaining, and also provides for localized pressure application to the pack to effectively hold and support the napkins in the holder. Any suitable means may be provided for interconnecting the sections, preferably at the inner edges of the base flanges Na, in a manner permitting relative rocking movement of the sections. Typically the connections may be in the form of a pair of hinges 2! each consisting of an eyelet 22 screwed into one of the sections and receiving a pin 23 inserted across a slot 24 in the other section.

It will be observed that the center of mass or gravity of each section is offset inwardly from its point of contact IS with the supporting surface S, and therefore that the sections tendto rock together toward the fully collapsed position of Fig. 1. Thus when the napkin pack 20 is inserted between the sections, the latter press against the pack by reason of their off balance condition, regardless of the number of napkins confined. Accordingly, as individual napkins are withdrawn, the holder sections automatically come closer together, pressing against and supporting the napkins remaining in the holder.

It will be understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention in a preferred though typical form, and that various minor changes in the materials, shape and arrangements of the sections may be made without departing from the invention in its intended spirit and scope:

Iclaim:

1. A holder for :paper napkins'orfthe like, comprising a :pair of upstanding sections adapted to rest on a surface and to receive the napkins on edge between them, each section having an inwardly projecting napkin supporting lower ,por-

tion forming a base extending continuousiy from one side to the other of the section, "and pivotal means interconnecting said lower portions of the sections whereby the sections rock together and press against the napkins.

2. A holder for paper napkins or the like, comprising a pair of upstanding sections adapted to rest on a surface and to receive the napkins on edge between them, each section having an in-- wardly projecting nap'kin supporting lower portion forming a base extending continuously from one "side to the other of the section, and means extending between and pivotally interconnecting the opposed inner edges of said lower portions whereby the sections rock together, and';press against the napkins.

3. A holder forpaper napkins or the like, comprising a pair of upstanding sections adapted to reston a surface and to receive the napkins on edge between them, each .sec'tionhav'ingan inwardly projecting upper portion extending continuously from one side to the other of theses.-

tion and an inwardly projecting napkin supporting base portion having a bottom surface extending continuously from one side to the other of the section and extending inwardly at a slight upward angle from its point of support on said first surface, and pivotal means interconnecting said lower portions of the sections whereby the sections rock together and press against the napkins.

4. Arholder ifior paper napkins or'the like, comprising .a pair of upstanding sections adapted to rest on a surface and to receive the napkins on edge between them, each section having an inwardly projecting upper portion extending con tinuously from one side to the other of the section and :aninwardly projecting napkin supporting portion forming a base extending continuously from one side to the other of the section, each of said base portions being inwardly tapered and having clearance from said surface to permit rocking movement, and pivotal means interconmeeting said lower portions. of the sections whereby the sections rock together and press against the napkins.

HALFO'RD R. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS of record in the 

